Electrochromic device having a self-cleaning hydrophilic coating
First Claim
1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
- a first substantially transparent element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein a self-cleaning, hydrophilic coating is applied to at least a portion of the front surface, and further wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the rear surface;
a second element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the front surface;
an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second elements; and
wherein the electrochromic device exhibits a C* value of less than approximately 20 in both a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state.
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Abstract
An electrochromic device is disclosed having a self-cleaning, hydrophilic optical coating. The electrochromic device preferably forms an external rearview mirror for a vehicle The coating preferably includes alternating layers of a photocatalytic material having a high index of refraction and a hydrophilic material having a low refractive index More specifically, the coating includes a first layer having a high refractive index, a second layer having a low refractive index, a third layer of titanium dioxide, and a fourth layer of silicon dioxide provided as an outermost layer. The disclosed optical coating exhibits a reflectance at the front surface of the reflective element that is less than about 20 percent, and has sufficient hydrophilic properties such that water droplets on a front surface of the optical coating exhibit a contact angle of less than about 20°.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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a first substantially transparent element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein a self-cleaning, hydrophilic coating is applied to at least a portion of the front surface, and further wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the rear surface;
a second element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the front surface;
an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second elements; and
wherein the electrochromic device exhibits a C* value of less than approximately 20 in both a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrochromic device, comprising:
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a first substantially transparent element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein a self-cleaning, hydrophilic coating is applied to at least a portion of the front surface, and further wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the rear surface;
a second element having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein an electrically conductive material is applied to at least a portion of the front surface;
an electrochromic medium contained within a chamber positioned between the first and second elements; and
wherein the electrochromic device exhibits a C* value of less than approximately 25 in both a high reflectance state and a low reflectance state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification